14 



I. The Indian Agent at Red Cloud* s Agency. 



In the first conversation I find with Red Cloud, when Gen. L. P. 

 Bradley and Col. T. H. Stanton were present, he complained bit- 

 terly of his Agent, J. J. Saville, who for the past two years has had 

 charge of his Agency. Red Cloud's specified charges were, that 

 his Agent was incompetent, weak and vacillating, having no influ- 

 ence over the Indians ; and especially that he was in league Vith 

 the contractors to defraud the Indians of the food and clothing 

 sent them by the Government. I regret to say that all I saw my- 

 self at the Agency, and all I learned from trustworthy observers, 

 and official records, has convinced me that these charges were 

 well-founded. As soon as I met the Agent himself, and observed 

 his method of dealing with Indians, it was at once evident to me 

 that he was entirely unfit for the responsible position he occupied. 

 This fact is illustrated by an occurrence, now well known, which 

 took place a few days before my arrival, when the Agent, by a 

 single act of folly, aroused the bitter hostility of the Indians in his 

 charge, and came near sacrificing the entire white population of 

 the Agency. This was avoided only by the rare coolness and 

 iy bravery of Lieut. E. Crawford, 4zd Cavalry, who came with his 

 company to the rescue, at the critical moment. Without military 

 protection, the Agent could not have remained in charge of the 

 Indians a single day, as their threats against him for indignities 

 and alleged frauds continually practiced upon them were open and 

 violent. Of the more debasing influences which this Agency was 

 openly exercising upon the Indians I will not now speak, although 

 the evidence on this point was obtained by direct observation. 

 That a chief of such note and ability as Red Cloud should 

 be subjected to the caprices of such an agent, is in itself a 

 gross indignity, and ill-calculated to inspire him or his people with 

 respect for the advantages of civilization. 



There appeared to be a total want of system in the management 

 of Agency affairs. The issues of Annuity goods, of beef and other 

 supplies, all were made in a loose and unbusinesslike way, in which 



